Yvonne Benson
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yvonnebenson.bsky.social
Yvonne Benson
@yvonnebenson.bsky.social
29 followers 26 following 95 posts
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Reposted by Yvonne Benson
krveale.bsky.social
Let's talk about generative AI, contaminated information, and rhubarb.

Once upon a time, Europe was at war.

Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
January 6, 2026 at 3:07 AM
yvonnebenson.bsky.social
And the armies of Krikkit robots, bent on the obliteration of all other lifeforms.
helenczerski.bsky.social Helen Czerski @helenczerski.bsky.social · 3d
Yday I was listening to the brilliant Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, from 1978. Douglas Adams saw it all: the awful fake chattiness & uselessness of ChatGPT, Alexa etc & how over-confident the algorithm designers are. “Genuine People Personalities” was a joke, but it should have been a warning.
“Nutrimatic Drinks Dispenser”
January 5, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
robinince.bsky.social
All it takes for evil to thrive is for mediocre world leaders to say “I’d rather not say”
January 4, 2026 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
cosmicshambles.com
We've had a bunch of messages lately asking what the best way to support Shambles and @robinince.bsky.social is post Monkey Cage and the best bet is to sign up to our Patreon which is how we fund all Shambles documentaries, podcasts and such. Plenty on the horizon for 2026.
Get more from The Cosmic Shambles Network on Patreon
Independent Creators of Content for the Curious
patreon.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
in-otter-news.bsky.social
I feel this is probably quite important information. You wouldn't want to get it wrong.
December 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
in-otter-news.bsky.social
Why are you like this, Steve!?
December 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
russincheshire.bsky.social
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The United States of [Redacted]
December 20, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
in-otter-news.bsky.social
Why are you like this, Steve?
December 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
yvonnebenson.bsky.social
Would @nataliehaynes.bsky.social like to chip in to these classics references?
smolrobots.bsky.social Small Robots @smolrobots.bsky.social · Dec 8
I have a joke about Cleopatra's ass, but it's milking it a bit.
scriblit.bsky.social GHC Has Gorra Lorra Fings On (the radio) @scriblit.bsky.social · Dec 8
I have a joke about Ozymandias, King of Kings, but it has not aged well
December 9, 2025 at 1:39 AM
yvonnebenson.bsky.social
As my other half used to say, No shit, Sherlock
December 6, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
nataliehaynes.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone who has listened to Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics this year! 💕🎧
December 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
yvonnebenson.bsky.social
Pride in their creation.
November 30, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
smolrobots.bsky.social
Oh look, it's that time of year again! Time to place your orders for the 2026 Small Robots Calendar! It's £30, and this year's theme is Wistfulbot Goes for a Walk. It's got contemplative pictures and some sort-of poetry I guess? Anyway, the order form is here: forms.gle/AmdadzcTvzt8...
2026 Small Robots Calendar Order Form
This is the form for ordering a 2026 Small Robots Calendar. It's a wall calendar featuring twelve brand new full-colour illustrations of Wistfulbot going for a walk in various landscapes, thinking abo...
forms.gle
November 20, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
in-otter-news.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
in-otter-news.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
helenczerski.bsky.social
Loved the Oscar Wilde quote read out at the start of Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction ceremony this evening:

“If you cannot write well, you cannot think well; if you cannot think well, others will do your thinking for you.”

Yay books!

(book in pic was in my goody bag, not the winner)
The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction programme and the book The Boundless Deep by Richard Holmes
November 4, 2025 at 11:46 PM
yvonnebenson.bsky.social
Trying a 26 book challenge this year. Doing ok, except I'm 85 percent through my year, and only 73 percent through my books. #booksky
November 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
rigb.org
What would the vacuum of space do to a pumpkin? 🎃

This year's Christmas Lectures, supported by CGI, will be out-of-this-world! 🪐 Join space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock for a whistle-stop tour of our Solar System, and beyond.

Learn more about the series: rigb.org/christmas-lectures
October 31, 2025 at 10:31 AM
yvonnebenson.bsky.social
Found this at a local shop Bookcase London in Chiswick. I'll only open it when I'm ready to read it #mystery #booksky
An unknown book wrapped in brown paper, tied with string and a tag marked "Blind date with a book." On the wrapping is written "Business card. Dissection. Dark jokes. Unreliable narrator." as an idea of its content.
October 27, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
bosalls.bsky.social
Poster of Larry with caption vote Larry for PM
October 24, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
bannerite.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
bobmayer.bsky.social
Another gargoyle reading in the wild.
September 27, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
robinince.bsky.social
Thank you so much to the Booksellers Association for awarding me Author of the Year for a second time - love you all - what remains of my career is about to go through a drastic change, so this means a lot - here is my acceptance speech @lucia-oc.bsky.social @zenabarrie.bsky.social
September 23, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Reposted by Yvonne Benson
in-otter-news.bsky.social
There are two types of bathing:
September 20, 2025 at 1:47 PM